DK Shivakumar defends ₹1,400-crore assets amid NICE row with Kumaraswamy
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday launched a sharp counterattack against Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy after the JD(S) leader accused him of benefiting from alleged irregularities in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC/NICE) project. Kumaraswamy, who released a series of documents, alleged that Shivakumar's declared wealth had risen from around ₹4 crore in 2003 to more than ₹1,400 crore in 2023 and linked the increase to alleged irregularities in the NICE project, demanding a probe into the matter.
Responding to the allegations, Shivakumar acknowledged that his assets are currently valued at around ₹1,400 crore but maintained that they were acquired legally and have been disclosed to the authorities. "Yes, at today's valuation, I own assets worth ₹1,400 crore. I have acquired them within the legal framework. Every detail of my assets is already with the Income Tax Department," he said. Defending his wealth, Shivakumar said property appreciation over the years had contributed significantly to the increase in asset value. "I am a farmer's son and an entrepreneur. Should I not own property? Should my family members not buy property? Everything has been done legally," he stated.
Shivakumar dismissed Kumaraswamy's allegations as politically motivated and questioned why the Union minister had not raised the issue earlier. "He is unable to digest our government's popularity. If he had genuine concerns, why was he silent all these years?" Shivakumar asked. He also referred to former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda's association with the NICE project and Kumaraswamy's own tenure as Karnataka chief minister, arguing that allegations should be taken to appropriate authorities rather than made at press conferences.
